Sec Army: MSCoE critical to developing leaders

1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –Acting Secretary of the Army and Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy donned the gear and joined a special reaction team for a hostage retrieval scenario while touring Fort Leonard Wood Friday. In addition to getting to experience MP training, Murphy also joined a Basic Combat Training unit for physical readiness training, operated an assault breacher vehicle and donned a protective ensemble at the First Lieutenant Terry Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Training Facility. (Photo Credit: Mr. Michael Curtis (Leonard Wood))VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –At the 1st Lt. Terry Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Training Facility, Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy donned a protective ensemble and got hands on experience in plugging a simulated leak during his visit to Fort Leonard Wood Friday. (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Robert Carter (Leonard Wood))VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy operated an assault breacher vehicle at the engineer "million dollar hole" training site during his visit to Fort Leonard Wood Friday. (Photo Credit: Mr. Michael Curtis (Leonard Wood))VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption –Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy provided guest speaker remarks for the Sapper Leader Course 006-16 graduation ceremony at the Engineer Regimental Room Friday. "I have the utmost respect for Sapper School. It is one of the hardest schools in our Army," Murphy said. "As someone who deployed twice, what Sappers do and what you all do, is remarkable to our Army." (Photo Credit: Mr. Michael Curtis (Leonard Wood))VIEW ORIGINAL

The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood hosted the Acting Secretary of the Army Friday and provided an experience the former Soldier appreciated.
Acting Secretary of the Army and Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy started his day at the fort like most Soldiers, conducting physical readiness training. He joined Company D, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment for morning warm-ups, a run and later joined them at a dining facility for breakfast.
As a former Soldier, Murphy wanted to assure the Soldiers in training that no matter where life takes them, they are Soldiers.
"Whether you serve three or four years or 30 years, you are part of our Family forever. You are a Soldier for life," he said.
Following his morning PRT, Murphy engaged in hands-on CBRN incident response training, military police special reaction team room clearing training, and operated an assault breacher vehicle at the engineer "million dollar hole" training site. He also received updates from the MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood command and leadership teams during his visit which focused on describing the state-of-the-art installation, the unique Engineer, CBRN and Military Police skills and tools taught and developed here, as well as the collaboration and integration with all Army components and other services.
In addition, Murphy participated in a reenlistment ceremony for a military police instructor and provided guest speaker remarks for the Sapper Leader Course graduation.
"I have the utmost respect for Sapper School. It is one of the hardest schools in our Army," Murphy said. "As someone who deployed twice, what Sappers do and what you all do, is remarkable to our Army."
In his speech, Murphy also acknowledged the important work of the Engineer Regiment in Soldier 2020 efforts and in gender integration, both in training and in combat MOSs.
The Acting Secretary said he was pleased with his visit and the critical capabilities developed in the heart of the nation.
"Your job here at the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence is critical to developing our leaders and unique skills supporting formations anywhere around the world," Murphy said.